By David Thompson
Two years ago, men's basketball Head Coach Eric Reveno was coming off his first season on The Bluff. His inaugural season was not filled with much success, but he knew where the team was headed.
It was then that he started planning a trip to Australia for the team that would match them up against top competition in the heart of the offseason.
The trip to Australia, that will take place in late May, will include four games, three in Sydney and another in Cairns.
"The trip was planned a couple of years ago to take advantage of where we anticipated being as a program," Reveno said. The timing could not be better for the Pilots.
Portland is coming off the most successful season on The Bluff in over a decade. The season was highlighted by big wins over Washington and Nevada and a trip to the inaugural CollegeInsider.com tournament.
The Pilots also defeated a Saint Mary's squad that features five members from Australia. Saint Mary's is led by Australian Nation Team point guard Patrick Mills and features four other Australian members.
Because there are no seniors on the current roster, the Pilots will be unable to sign new players for the 2009-2010 season. Despite that there are no open roster spots, Reveno acknowledged the importance of trips of this nature in terms of recruiting for the future.
"In terms of recruiting, it helps as here in the United States as players want to be a part of program that will give them opportunities such as a foreign tour," Reveno said. "In Australia, we will continue to develop contact with key players in Australia basketball that could potentially help us attract players in the future."
Reveno, who is the reigning WCC Coach of the Year, is no stranger to recruiting international players as the current Portland roster features four international athletes.
More so than recruiting, the trip will provide a rare opportunity for the team to bond on and off the court during the summer. "It is a great opportunity to have 10 days of practice prior to going to Australia," Reveno said. "To have this experience in May when we normally are not allowed to work with our team is fantastic."
Reveno outlined the trip, highlighted by the four games against some of the best Australia has to offer. "Once we head to Australia, the trip will be focused on playing top level competition and enjoying Australia," Reveno said.
The Pilots will spend six days in Sydney and another three Cairns. "Hopefully, both the basketball and the travel will be a bonding experience for the team as we continue to develop our teamwork and leadership," Reveno said.
Since arriving to campus, Reveno has emphasized the off-season including a training program last summer that left almost every player in better physical shape. He says that this summer's program will be a bit different.
"The training camp will be the most intense we have had since I have been here and will combine on-court work, strength and conditioning and class room sessions," Reveno said. He added that the main focus points will be individual offensive skills as well as team defense.
Two years ago many would have considered the trip a waste of time and money for the University. Two years ago very few saw the potential in the team.
But two years ago Eric Reveno saw what this program could be with a little work. What Reveno saw two years ago is becoming a reality.
